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We have just updated the members section with details of the trip to Ripon this year. Please don’t forget to fill in the application forms available on the members’ page, as well as to email Martin to let him know if you are coming or not!
100 years after the Armistice took effect at the end of the First World War, it was a privilege and a joy to participate at Notre-Dame de Paris in the traditional Remembrance Service held at the Cathedral each year since 1924.
RSCM European Cathedral Singers were guests of RSCM France for this event – coming together to form a choir of 64 singers supported by a brass ensemble and percussion.
There were many poignant moments in the special service – we sang the same Te Deum sung by the cathedral choir on Armistice Day 1918 and the bugle used to sound the Last Post and Reveille was used in 1918 on the western front to announce the end of hostilities.
The Tributes to incredibly brave forces members from a number of wars were told by serving officers and reminded us of the importance of remembering.
Among all of this, we found room for two world premieres – an atmospheric flute solo and a newly-commissioned anthem by Malcom Archer.
Some more details, for members only, of our planned trip to sing in Notre Dame.
This post is for ECS members only Continue reading “Hymns For Bury St Edmunds”
It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Gordon Appleton, a great friend of RSCM Northwest Europe and European Cathedral Singers.
More details can be found at the RSCM website here. Elsewhere on the web, a page with some memories of gordon from around the world has been set up on legacy.com.
As it turned out, for many of us our last memory of Gordon will be of his visits during our time at York Minster in August 2017. Here Gordon (centre) and organist James Pollard are admiring Jos’ erudite encapsulation of a week’s singing into three sentences.
Last August our choir ECS were privileged to perform the World (UK) and Netherlands premieres of a new piece – Our Last Awakenings by Grayston Ives, commissioned specially for ECS by member Penny – at York Minster and the St Bavo Kerk Haarlem, respectively.
Most of us probably thought that this would be enough excitement for a while, but we are excited to announce the forthcoming premiere of a new piece by Stevie Wishart at our annual Choral festival. See below for more details about the event.
We are heading for another premiere, this time in Paris in November – it never rains but it pours!
More on that one soon.
We have updated our event listing for this year’s RSCM NW Europe and Arch-deaconary of North West Europe Choral Festival, this year to be held in Brussels.
If you are interested in attending and are a member of an affiliated choir, then your Choir Director or other RSCM contact already has all the information that you need. Failing that, interested singers can contact us directly!
ECS members should look out for an email announcing our singing weekend at Kasteel De Berckt, in early April. To be led by well-known UK choral director Gordon Appleton, this weekend promises to be chock-full of great music and singing!
A small number of places are still available – interested singers can contact us.
After singing 3 services today on our final day at York Minster many of us are now on our way home. A notable organ voluntary from David Whitehead ended a very peaceful Sunday Evensong service following music from Sumsion, W S Lloyd Webber, and Faur̩ as well as an interesting sermon Рsubjects today over the three services ranged from doing good and recognizing good in others to the business of professional football!
Thanks to the community at York Minster for providing a wonderful welcome and uplifting  services. This picture was taken earlier in the day as you can see from Francis’ darkened spectacles…
Notice also one of this year’s top fans – Jesse prominent at the front. Clearly a future conductor!
Thanks to Richard and Rob for the excellent photo.
We are about halfway through our Summer visit, this year to sing services at York Minster. This evening Friday is the world Premiere of “Our Last Awakening” by Grayston Ives. Its not too late to come along – be there early as it has been full every day so far this week!
Credit to Sigrid (I think!) for the beautifully lit photograph
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